ST. JEROME CHURCH

23 Half Mile Road Norwalk, CT 06851 ~ 203-847-5349

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER MAY 7, 2017

SABBATH MASSES

Saturday 4:00 PM E.S.T. & 4:30 PM D.S.T.

Sunday 8:00 AM

9:15 AM Young Children's Mass

11:00 AM

6:00 PM Teen Mass

DAYS OF OBLIGATION

Vigil 7:00 PM

Holy Day 9:00 AM, 7:00 PM

WEEKDAY MASSES

Mon-Sat 9:00 AM

HOW TO FIND US……

Parish Website:

www.stjeromenorwalk.org

Parish Email: norwalkstjerome@cs.com

REACH email: reachstjerome@optonline.net

Parish Facebook:

St. Jerome Norwalk

REACH & TOTAL Facebook:

REACH St.Jerome

Parish Twitter: @StJeromeNorwalk

REACH & TOTAL Twitter:

@REACHstjerome

Instagram:

reach.total.stjerome

PASTORAL STAFF

203-847-5349

Rev. David Blanchfield, Pastor

Rev. Rojin Zacharias K.M., Parochial Vicar

Rev. Michael Hoag, S.J., Weekend Assistant

Deacon Dean Finch • 203-847-6397

deacon.dean.finch@gmail.com

PARISH OFFICE

203-847-5349

Mrs. Pat Florio, Secretary

Office Hours, Mon-Fri 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (REACH)

203-846-2111

Mrs. Kathy Coyne, DRE

Mrs. Natalie Raduazzo

Mrs. Kathy Rohr

YOUTH MINISTRY (TOTAL)

Joe and Daniela OʼCallaghan

203-847-0321

jocallaghan@optonline.net

danielaoc@optonline.net

MUSIC MINISTRY

203-847-5349

Mr. Donald Nelson

Mrs. Joan McFarland

PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON

Robert Yap • 203-246-7447

FINANCE COUNCIL

Jerry Holdridge • 203-966-3658

ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

203-847-3881 Pre K—Grade 8

139 West Rocks Road

Norwalk, CT 06851

Mrs. Linda Dunn, Principal

FAITH DIRECT—ONLINE GIVING

866-507-8757 www.faithdirect.net

Sign up using our church code: CT46, or

by mailing a paper enrollment form available in

the parish office. Also available on our website at

www.stjeromenorwalk.org/Faith-Direct-

enrollment.pdf

MISSION STATEMENT

We the people of St. Jerome Parish, a Ro-

man Catholic community, proclaim our

belief in the message and mission of Jesus

Christ. As disciples of Jesus we are called

to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to

work for its values in the local community

and beyond. We are committed to: wor-

ship, religious education, shared faith and

service. We welcome all people with re-

spect, acceptance and support.

Parish Staff

Altar Flowers

Altar Flowers may be memorialized for a donation

of $50. Please call the Parish Office several

months prior to your desired date.

Adoration & Silent Prayer

Every day between 4:00PM and 5:00PM.

Contemplative Prayer

Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM.

Come spend some quiet time with the Lord.

Widows’ Support Group

Meets at 9:30AM on the second Thursday of the

month in the Kevin Eidt Youth Room.

Perpetual Novena

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal takes place

each Monday following morning Mass

Rosary & Divine Mercy Prayers

Monday through Saturday after daily Mass

Baptisms Please call the parish office to

schedule.

Required Pre-Baptism Please contact

Deacon Dean Finch at 203-847-6397 to arrange.

Class is required for the first child baptized at

St. Jerome.

Reconciliation One hour before vigil on

Saturday. Also anytime by appointment.

Marriages Please contact the Rectory at least

six months in advance.

Anointing of the Sick takes place on the first

Wednesday of each month, immediately following the

9:00 AM Mass, in the sanctuary. Anyone with an

ongoing medical condition or who is seriously ill,

anticipating a medical procedure or operation, is

welcome to come.

Gluten Free Hosts are available at all Masses. If

you require a gluten-free host, please see the

officiating priest before Mass.

Bringing up the Gifts at Mass If the Mass

intention has been requested by you or for your loved

ones, and you would like to bring up the Gifts at the

Offertory, please let the ushers know that you are

present and would like to bring up the gifts.

5/6 9:00 am Beverly Pavlik (2nd Ann.)

(family)

VIGIL FOR SUNDAY

4:30 pm Nilda Canevari

(Coppola family)

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

5/7 8:00 am Ted Boccuzzi

(Pat Chocas)

9:15 am Patricia DeFlorio

(Rosalind Scianna Serna)

11:00 am Vincenzo Iannone, Jr.

(family)

6:00 pm Alexandra Sandor (1st. Ann.)

(Chris & Helen Eidt)

5/8 9:00 am for the People

5/9 9:00 am Clorinda Pisco

(Phil & Pat Florio)

5/10 9:00 am for our students taking

final exams

5/11 9:00 am for Deceased Mothers

5/12 9:00 am Anthony DeSantis

(family)

5/13 9:00 am Elvra & Emilio Bedoya

(Ines & family)

VIGIL FOR SUNDAY

4:30 pm Ann & Wally Regan

(family)

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

5/14 8:00 am Angela Ferrone

9:15 am James Pellegrino

(family)

11:00 am Teodocio Lopez,

Sarah Baltazara Lopez,

& Vincent Mendoza Jr.

(July Mendoza)

6:00 pm Antoinette Salas

(Sheila Chimento)

The Banns of Marriage

are announced for the

first time between

Eric Johnson

and

Melissa Labbadia

Astonishing, here it is, the Fourth Sunday of Easter. First Communion is next weekend, as is Mother’s

Day. One of the perks of being pastor is that I can choose the Masses at which I preside. I always pre-

side at the 9:15am Mass on Mother’s Day. I do so because it is our tradition here at St. Jerome to have

First Communion on the Saturday before Mother’s Day. All year long we have been watching the first

communicants prepare for the day. Then, the next day, which is usually a Sunday of Easter, the children

come back to be with the 9:15am congregation, who have been praying for them all year long. Add in our

May crowning and our weekend blessing of mothers, mix it all together and you have one exciting morn-

ing!

Speaking of exciting, I am happy to share a CONECT victory with you. CONECT is a multi-faith, multi-

racial, organization of Congregations that work together both for the common good to help the world

move from being as it is to being as it should be. Last summer, the son of one of our leaders was mur-

dered. There had been a fight at Slyce Pizza Bar in Hamden. Jonathan Cooper was with his cousin driv-

ing through the neighborhood, when one of the men involved in the fight mistook Jonathan for a combat-

ant. At a stop light, he shot and killed this good and innocent man. CONECT went to work. We can-

vassed the neighborhood to see what issues folks had, including some from member Congregations. As

a result of numerous complaints from the neighborhood as well as the Dean of Students at nearby

Southern Connecticut State University, CONECT decided to challenge the bar’s liquor license that was

up for renewal. A lawyer from a member Congregation devoted over 100 hours of pro-bono work. We

sent over 40 people to the hearing and, just last night, the Liquor Commission took away the liquor li-

cense.

Now a source of much violence and disruption in the SCSU area is being blocked. It took Congregations

coming together to help each other to do this good work for the common good. If you have a relative at

SCSU he or she will be safer because of CONECT. Community organizing is bringing people together to

make societal changes that no one person could do on his or her own. I am so proud that St. Jerome is a

founding member of CONECT.

THIS WEEK AT ST. JEROME…….

Sunday 5/7 REACH & TOTAL meet today

Monday 5/8 Women’s Scripture Group 9:30 AM

Tuesday 5/9

Wednesday 5/10 Contemplative Prayer 7:00 PM

Women’s Scripture Group 7:30 PM

Thursday 5/11

Friday 5/12

Saturday 5/13 Men’s Ministry 7:00 AM

WEEKLY OFFERTORY SUMMARY

April 30, 2017 $4,734

May offertory budget $47,000

The deposit for the April 30th offertory was

made on May 1st, 2017

As always, thank you for your

generous support of the parish.

THANK YOU

FOR YOUR DO-

NATIONS

TO OUR APRIL

FOOD DRIVE

Thanks to the contributions received from our pa-

rishioners, our April food drive total was 917 food

items, 454 of which were purchased from cash

donated to the "most needed items" table after

Masses. The Milk Fund total was $70. Special

thanks to our volunteers who manned the table --

Rebecca Sweeney, Sheila Rietano, John Wagner,

and Beth O'Mara. Also we appreciate the efforts

of our Grade 4 REACH students and Confirmation

candidates who joined our regular crew

of volunteers in the sorting and bagging of the col-

lection. Your ongoing support of St. Jerome food

drives results in feeding hungry families in Nor-

walk. Thanks to all for your compassion and de-

votion.

The Welcoming Committee would

like to invite the Parish to our Cof-

fee Hour today just after the 9:15

Mass. All parishioners are welcome.

We especially would like to invite our

new parishioners—come mingle and

get to know the St. Jerome family!

We pray for those who bravely serve our country

in the military and those deployed in dangerous

locations. Thank God for those who have re-

turned home safely. Our service people include:

Spec. Jason Kulik, United States Army

PFC Andrew Chimento, United States Army

PFC Devon Barker, United States Army

If you or a family member are on active duty and

would like to be prayed for, please let the office

k n o w ( 2 0 3 - 8 4 7 - 5 3 4 9 o r

reachstjerome@optonline.net)

HAND CRAFTED JEWELRY SALE

The Social Concerns Committee will be hosting a

Special Jewelry sale after all the Weekend

Masses on both April 29 -30 and May 6-7. Stop

by the display in the Church hallway. Lots of gift

ideas for Moms and folks of any age among your

f a m i l y o r

f r i e n d s .

Proceeds from

the sale will

benefit educa-

tion programs

for children in

Nepal, thru

SATHI NEPAL,

which is a Con-

necticut regis-

tered nonprofit 501C3 organization that has pro-

vided education, healthcare, and income genera-

tion programs in Nepal for over 2,500 children

a n d t h e i r f a m i l i e s s i n c e 2 0 0 0 .

All the jewelry (bracelets, earrings, pendants, and

rings) is handcrafted in Nepal by the most gifted

artisans with the finest 92.5 sterling silver and

gemstones. Prices range from $15 to $60. For

more information about SATHI NEPAL, please

visit their website: www.sathinepal.org.

There will be a meeting of the

Welcoming Committee this Mon-

day, May 8th, at 7:30 PM in the

Resource Room. All are wel-

come.

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

@Pontifex “May St. Joseph give

young people the ability to dream, to

take risks for big tasks, the things that

God dreams for us.”

@BishopCaggiano “Just as physical health de-

mands a regime of good exercise, spiritual health

requires prayer life that includes a spirit of true

recollection.”

@JameMartinSJ “Gospel: Great crowds fol-

lowed Jesus everywhere, longing to be with him.

How much do you want to be with him? What will

you give up to do so?”

May 7 -Grades K-6 meet at the 9:15 Mass

followed by class.

**Last Kindergarten Class

-Grades 7 & 8—meet in the evening.

Check your email for details.

First Communion Information….

Rehearsals this week—

• Tuesday, May 9, at 6:30 PM

AND

• Wednesday, may 10, at 6:30 PM

Please bring completed First Communion book

and banner as well as any missing paperwork.

• Tonight is the last night of TOTAL. We hope

all our TOTAL teens will join us after the 6:00

Mass for an ice cream social to say

“Goodbye” to our seniors and “Hello” to next

year’s freshmen. We have had a wonderful

year at TOTAL and have truly enjoyed talking,

singing, laughing, and praying with your

teens. We wish you a happy and safe summer

and can’t wait to start a new year of TOTAL in

September.

• The 9

th

grade Confirmation retreats have been

scheduled for Friday, June 23 and Monday,

June 26. Your child needs to attend only one

retreat day.

TOTAL SCHOLARSHIPS: In addition to the

Kevin M. Eidt TOTAL scholarship, the TOTAL

Team will be presenting 2 additional scholarships

to graduating seniors at this year’s graduation

dinner. The scholarships are in honor of Claire

Budnik, and Sean Sullivan. If you would like to

make a contribution to either of these scholar-

ships please make your check payable to St.

Jerome and put “scholarship” in the memo. If you

would like to contribute to the Kevin M. Eidt

Scholarship, please make your check payable to

Kevin’s Fund.

The Catholic Academy of Bridgeport is a faith-filled

learning community made up of four campuses in the

city of Bridgeport: St. Andrew, St. Ann, St. Raphael

and St. Augustine elementary schools. Its mission is

to provide a Christ-centered, academically rigorous

learning environment where cultural diversity is wel-

comed and celebrated. Students are nurtured, en-

couraged and challenged in preparation for a suc-

cessful life of leadership and service. This year we

serve 930 children of which 85% receive financial aid

totaling more than $2 million annually and many rep-

resent the neediest. 100% of 2015 students gradu-

ated from high school and 99% pursued post-

secondary education. The Board of the Catholic

Academy must raise more than $1.8 million in aid

each year for those in need.

PRAYERS.Are you the face of

prayer? Are you willing to pray with

the Bishop Caggiano every day? Join

the movement. Text a selfie, your

prayer intention, or simply the word “pray” to

55778 and join in the journey as we learn more

about the power of prayer.

ANNUAL CASH

RAFFLE TO

STRENGTHEN

ST. JEROME

You can help fund the par-

ish's operations and good

works by buying $50 raffle tickets. They are

available before and after all weekend Masses.

This year we have different cash prizes: First

prize is now $10,000, second prize is $3,000, and

third prize is $2,000. Our 22nd Annual Raffle

Drawing takes place on Saturday, June 3, with

our raffle barbeque picnic beginning in the church

hall after the 4:30 PM Mass. The prize drawings

are at 7:00 PM. We greatly appreciate your past

support and really need it this year!

PARISH TID BITS…….

• If there is a parishioner in need of a hospital bed

for their home, please contact the office for de-

tails.

• This year the blue Donation tag on the parish

Lenten Cross asked for monetary donations for

a Syrian refugee family here in CT. Our parish

generously responded and raised $890. Thank

you all for reaching out!